Liberty University, Glenn Beck and the Gospel

On April 23, 2010 Liberty University announced that Glenn Beck would deliver the Commencement speech for Liberty University’s Class of 2010. The graduation took place on Saturday, May 15. Beck’s speech can be viewed online at The Rightscoop.

Success came early for Beck when just before his speech, Liberty conferred an honorary Doctorate of Humanities degree upon him. Beck then went on to speak to the more than 4,000 students present.

The result of the Commencement speech?

Best commencement we’ve ever had.

Said Jerry Falwell, Jr., Chancellor of Liberty University. It seems Beck and the Liberty officials were happy. It seems the graduating students were also pleased judging by the their reactions during the speech. Given Beck’s political leanings and entertainment value this is understandable. However, it wasn’t all smiles for everyone.

Some concerned Christians spoke up. A most interesting passing reply to these concerned Christians came from a Liberty official. On, April 23, the same day of the announcement, Ergun Caner, President of Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary responded via twitter.

Glenn Beck at the LU Graduation! Love it! And I’m loving the snarking of the haters. LU folk: rejoice when they revile!

Given the nature of the concern for Beck speaking at Liberty this reply does not make a lot of sense. Caner may have been referring to Matthew 5:11 or another part of Scripture. This would be even more troubling since Christians are to rejoice when persecuted for Christ’s sake. Given that Beck is a Mormon it should be difficult for any Christian to rejoice in such manner.

One example of concern comes from a Florida pastor who was part of this graduating class. He shared his feelings at – Point of View: Why Glenn Beck is wrong for Liberty University’s commencement. His first paragraph lays out the crux of the concern.

For those who may not be aware, Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., which has consistently been known for its strong conservative and Christian values as a Baptist school, has invited political talk show host Glenn Beck to give the commencement speech to its graduates this week. On the surface that may not seem alarming to many since he is conservative. But given the fact he is a Mormon there ought to be red flags and sirens going off all across Christian circles.

Were this pastor’s concerns valid? After all, it was a Commencement speech given from a person who basically shares the same politically and socially conservative worldview as his audience. Non-Christians can speak truths in these areas. Can we agree on that? Even James White points this out about non-Christians speaking truth while addressing a different issue after the fact in Can Unbelievers Speak Truth?

Can an atheist speak truth? If he says “2+2=4″ is the statement less true than if a Christian said the same thing?

What is interesting about White’s post is that he is combating claims that information received from a Muslim can be true regardless of its source. In this case, the information from a Muslim is being used to analyze some of Ergun Caner’s teachings on Islam. If it is wrong for White to reference a Muslim to merely fact check, how can it then be acceptable for Liberty to use a Mormon to promote its agenda through a speech? However, fact checking versus partnering with a non-Christian who calls on the name of Jesus and His gospel, as will be shown below, are two very different things. Where is the outrage? But I digress.

Concerning Words

Are the concerns of the pastor quoted above, as well as that of other Christians, valid? On the surface the answer is an easy “yes” since Christians and Mormons don’t mix doctrinally. However, since this situation concerns Liberty University it is probably best to seek their own perspective on these issues.

The Message From the Chancellor states:

Liberty University is the largest and fastest growing Christian Evangelical university in the world. …vision to train young Champions for Christ. … Everything we do is designed to develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge and skills essential to impact tomorrow’s world.

From the LU Distinctives point 2:

A commitment to training visionary champions for Christ. Chapel and convocation speakers are leaders from the worlds of business, education, athletics, government, many professions and the Gospel ministry. These champions join hands with our faculty and chancellor in challenging Liberty students to become visionaries and to win the world for Christ from their vocational platforms.

And a final example, from their Mission:

To develop Christ-centered men and women with the values, knowledge, and skills essential to impact tomorrow’s world.

Liberty desires to develop Christ-centered graduates that can take the gospel into all walks of life. This is a great biblical, praiseworthy goal. Yet, a Mormon gave the Commencement speech for this year’s graduating class. A Commencement is when the students are conferred their degrees from the school. Although some may say it was only a Commencement speech, it may also be one of the last speeches those graduates hear as they are sent out into the world for Christ.

Did Beck say anything troubling or confusing? Jerry Falwell, Jr. introduced Beck by conferring the honorary doctorate due to Beck’s “tireless efforts to preserve the American ideal.” I would probably agree with this American ideal, yet how does this relate to Liberty’s Christ-centered vision?

Beck begins explaining:

I want you to know that I understand that the invitation to speak today is not meant as an endorsement of my faith. But I also want you to understand, that my agreeing to speak here today is an endorsement of your faith.

This is a very interesting statement. It lays the ground work for Beck to bridge a theological divide. He goes on to say that “we need to find the things that unite us…” He finds these commonalities by using biblical terms.

The Spirit is an amazing tool. Rely on God. Do your own work and ask Him, is this right? He will reveal the truth. … The Lord gave us these rights.

Beck references George Whitefield as an amazing man and explains how he reminds him of Moses. He then explains how he recently went to the Scriptures to read about Moses. While describing how he might have reacted if he were in Moses’ shoes he references himself as God’s child. At one point he exclaims:

Turn to God and live!

After pausing for applause, he goes on to repeat this statement. After challenging the students to make the most of their life he tells of a Scripture passage that changed his life, Ezekiel 33. He explains how the Lord must be our shield. Then come some troubling words.

Root ourself in the gospel. Put our feet in the gospel of peace, but be unmovable. Stand for liberty.

Minutes later Beck starts talking about the importance of the atonement. He states how powerful it is and how it will change your life. He moves back to Moses and his interaction with God repeating the “Look to God and live” line. Beck closes the speech reading a journal entry he wrote to his daughter. This consumes about the last 10 minutes of the speech with references to God and biblical truths.

Beck is entertaining, funny, serious and emotional. His final words are:

I leave these things with you in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Amen.

Blurring the Gospel

Intentional or not, this was a masterful move for Beck, a Mormon, to speak to Christians on their turf using biblical language. Beck issued the caveat at the beginning that he knew the Liberty crowd did not accept his faith, yet he went on to speak as if they did accept his faith. Brilliant for Beck, not so much for Liberty. Two different Jesus’ along with two different gospels were portrayed as one. And Christians wonder why the world is confused about the gospel?

The world sees a uniting around conservative “American ideals” couched in biblical language. Ironically, this approach to push for conservative values is similar to liberal Christianity’s push for liberal values through their agendas. There is little difference in blurring the gospel in liberal circles through movements like “social justice” compared to blurring it through various conservative agendas.

This is exactly how the gospel was blurred. Falwell gave Beck a platform based on Beck’s fight for American ideals. Beck went on to talk more about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, the atonement, the gospel, etc. than he did about American ideals. He even called people to “turn to God and live.” Which god is Beck calling people to? The god of American idealism? Beck’s god of Mormonism? Beck assumed a common gospel from a common Lord which turns out to be no gospel at all.

It is disappointing the the world’s largest Evangelical Christian university had a Mormon come and speak about the gospel. Are accomplished Christian’s so few that none were available? Does Liberty really believe in the power of the gospel to change and influence lives? Or, is it more important to focus on and unite around social/political issues? Change laws, change lives? Change values, change lives? What happens if American society today collapses and our freedoms lost? Will the world have no hope until the freedoms are restored? Or will the gospel flourish under persecution as it did in times past and in other parts of the world today?

Liberty should have called Glenn Beck to repent and believe the good news rather than to represent and retrieve his views. Christians must regain the trust in the power of the gospel, not in its assumption. No matter the social/political circumstances the gospel of Jesus Christ provides the greatest hope of all.

Brief Comparison between Mormonism and Christianity

(Glenn Beck photo credit: Gage Skidmore)

About the author

Mark is a Christian, husband and father. He is a businessman by day working to support his family while attending seminary in the off hours as he prepares for vocational ministry.

Above post by Mark on June 10, 2010